News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | October 31, 2026
Local News
New Kent deputy struck while patrolling bike ride traffic
A New Kent deputy is recovering from injury after being struck by a vehicle. Around 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 4, Captain Chris Hamlet was patrolling traffic on foot at the intersection of New Kent Highway and Henpeck Road for the Martin’s bike ride event. While directing traffic in the eastbound lane of New Kent highway, a 2001 Dodge pickup made contact with the deputy. According to the Virginia State Police report, the pickup was proceeding through the intersection under the direction of another deputy. Hamlet was taken to a local hospital in Richmond, where he is currently being evaluated for…
Read Full Story
Colonial Downs to shut down operations on Nov. 1
In an ongoing struggle between Colonial Downs’ compliance with the Virginia Racing Commission’s (VRC) numerous requests to agree to a new contract with Virginia Horseman’s Benevolent and Protective Association (VHBPA), Colonial Downs’ announced that it will shut down all operations effective Nov. 1. The Oct. 4 press release comes just days after Colonial Downs announced an agreement with the Old Dominion Thoroughbred Horseman’s Association, a group that is currently being formed. The new agreement was targeted to open up off-track betting (OTB) facilities, and called for an eight-week, 24 days of racing. If the new agreement is not approved by…
Read Full Story
Felony charge reduced in exchange for active jail time in CC Circuit Court
A Norfolk man will serve one month in jail in exchange for a felony charge being reduced to a misdemeanor. Donald Leroy Lewis, 66, of the 900 block of E. 29th Street, had a charge of possession of a firearm by a non-violent felon amended to misdemeanor accessory after the fact during Oct. 3 Charles City Circuit Court proceedings. Lewis accepted a plea deal at an earlier trial date on the charge, admitting he trespassed on a shooting range after hours last Dec. 22. Patrick Kelly, Lewis’ attorney, said over the past month that his client has struggled with the…
Read Full Story
Car’s ownership, occupants raise doubts in dismissed charge
Concerns over the ownership of a car along with doubts about the car’s occupants over a one-day time frame have led to dismissal of a felony charge lodged against a Petersburg man. Lavale Shurdall Wright, 48, of the 800 block of N. Hampton Road, had one charge of possession of cocaine dismissed during Sept. 29 New Kent Circuit Court proceedings. On Sept. 24, 2013, Trooper Michael Morehead executed a traffic stop for a vehicle that sped westbound on Interstate 64. Upon approaching the vehicle, the trooper detected an odor of alcohol. Identifying Wright as the driver, Wright confessed that he…
Read Full Story
Apparent address error results in alleged assault on two New Kent deputy sheriffs
An alleged assault on a pair of New Kent County deputy sheriffs at the hands of a man they were assigned to transport Friday afternoon to a local mental health facility apparently did not have to happen — at least not to the New Kent officers. A magistrate’s order that sent deputies Stan Belback and Cathy Day to Gloucester County to pick up 24-year-old Xavier Brown for transport to a facility in Williamsburg contained an error, listing Brown’s address as being in New Kent. Now authorities say Brown lives in the 200 block of York River Road, Shacklefords, which is…
Read Full Story
Howard not seeking 10th term as New Kent sheriff
Sheriffs in Virginia serve four-year terms at the pleasure of the voters. Obviously, New Kent County’s electorate has been overwhelmingly pleased with the performance of their sheriff, F.W. “Wakie” Howard Jr. Since first electing Howard in 1979, New Kent voters have returned their popular sheriff to the post in every election since. And in all but the first of those contests, he has run unopposed, polling thousands of votes on each occasion. But Howard’s name will not appear on the ballot for the county’s next general election scheduled for Nov. 3, 2015. After nine terms totaling 36 years, he is…
Read Full Story
No evidence of leakages from landfill, CC report indicates
When county resident David Ledbetter addressed concerns about violations by Waste Management to Charles City supervisors at a Sept. 3 town hall meeting, some citizens lashed out at local representatives for not relaying information on the situation to the public. However, at the Sept. 23 regular board of supervisors meeting, concerns over the violation were clarified. Documents provided to the Chronicle along with confirmation from county administrator Zach Trogdon revealed that alleged leakages of hazardous materials from the Waste Management landfill into groundwater were misconstrued from earlier reports. During the town hall meeting, Ledbetter read a report provided by Virginia’s…
Read Full Story
New Kent schools fully accredited, improve on AMOs
All four New Kent schools have met the requirements to be recognized as fully accredited school for the 2013-14 academic year. Director of curriculum and instructor Dr. Byron Bishop made the announcement at New Kent school board’s Monday night work session. Bishop commented that each school passed the Standards of Learning test with above average scores and that New Kent was one of 22 school divisions in the state where all schools are fully accredited. District 5 representative Dr. Gail Hardinge commented about the success of the schools and the achievements to earn the recognition. “This is a testament to…
Read Full Story
Providence Forge man arrested on strangulation charge
A Providence Forge man has been arrested after allegedly strangling a man in his home. Rickey William Wright Jr., 21, of the 6400 block of Continental Can Road, was taken into custody on Sept. 20 by after an incident in which he allegedly strangled Anthony Shurkus. According to the police report, Shurkus filed a complaint that he was assaulted at the suspect’s residence. After an investigation, it was deemed Shurkus’ comments matched physical marks on his body. Warrants were obtained for the arrest of Wright and he was taken into custody. Wright is charged with one count each of felony…
Read Full Story
New Kent man arrested in aftermath of domestic dispute
A New Kent man faces several charges after New Kent sheriff’s deputies responded to a recent domestic disturbance. Colton John Dearborn, 18, of the 5000 block of Quinton Estates Drive, Quinton, is charged with one count each of threatening to burn an occupied dwelling, destruction of property, domestic assault, and underage possession of alcohol following a Sept. 11 incident. Deputies responded on that date to report of a domestic disturbance in progress at the residence of the suspect’s mother, said Detective Joey McLaughlin. Arriving at the scene, they determined the suspect to be the alleged offender. Dearborn, who was arrested…
Read Full Story
